\n\nData regarding operation

time, hospital stay, complications and costs of 36 patients undergoing learn more pancreatic head resection in the years 2005 and 2006 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U-test. A p-value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.\n\nPostoperative complications caused an increase in the duration of hospital stay from a median of 16 (range 11-38) to 33 (10-69) days. Costs, especially for ICU treatment and radiographic diagnostics, rose significantly. The average overall costs were 10,015 EUR (range 8,099-14,785 EUR) in patients without complications (n=21) and 15,340 EUR (9,368-31,418 EUR) in patients with complications (n=15). In contrast, according to the German DRG system 13,835 EUR (10,441-15,062 EUR) and 15,062 EUR (10,441-33,217 EUR) were refunded on average, respectively.\n\nThis Selleckchem AL3818 case-cost calculation proves that pancreatic surgery in the context of the German DRG system can only be performed economically neutral in centers with low complications rates. The concentration of pancreatic surgery to centers with low complications rates, namely high volume centers,

must be recommended from an economic point of view.”
“This paper explores the value of qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) in public health research using the example of a pilot case management intervention for long-term incapacity benefit recipients. It uses QCA to examine how the health improvement effects of the intervention varied by individual and service characteristics.\n\nData for 131 participants receiving the intervention were collected over 9 months. Health improvement was measured using the EuroQual Visual Analogue Scale. Socio-demographic, health behaviour data were also collected. Data on service use was obtained from the providers

client records. Crisp set QCA was conducted to identify which individual and service characteristics were most likely to produce a health benefit after participation in the intervention.\n\nHealth improvement was most likely amongst younger participants, men aged over 50 and those with an occupational history of skilled manual work or higher and less likely amongst older women, those GW786034 with a musculoskeletal condition and those with semi- or un-skilled backgrounds. Service characteristics had no impact.\n\nThe QCA identified potential causal pathways for health improvement from the intervention with important potential implications for health inequalities. QCA should be considered as a viable and practical method in the public health evaluation tool box.”
“Objective: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a well-established clinical protocol with numerous potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Yet, much work remains in the elucidation of TMS mechanisms, optimization of protocols, and in development of novel therapeutic applications.